Sustainable in the Suburbs

Sarah Robertson-Barnes
  • 4.6 (10)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Want to waste less, save money, and make your home a little more eco-friendly? Sustainable in the Suburbs is your go-to podcast for practical, judgment-free tips and real-life stories to help you build sustainable habits that actually stick. Hosted by Sarah Robertson-Barnes — a suburban soccer mum, sustainability educator, and founder of the blog Sustainable in the Suburbs — this weekly show brings doable advice, honest conversations, and actionable ideas to help you waste less, spend smarter, and live more sustainably at home. Because sustainable living doesn’t have to be perfect to matter — and you don’t have to do it all to make a big impact.  Start where you are, use what you have, and live a little greener.

  1. 4D AGO

    45: Food Waste Is Costing You — How to Spend Less on Groceries with Chelsey Schmuland

    You’re not just wasting food — you’re throwing money in the trash. This week I’m joined by returning guest Chelsey Schmuland, and we’re digging into one of the most overlooked ways to save money on groceries: reducing food waste. Chelsey is the maker behind Hive to Home, where she creates handmade beeswax wraps as a reusable alternative to plastic food storage. She’s also a grocery budgeting queen and food rescue enthusiast. We talk about how much food we’re actually wasting (and what that costs), how food rescue apps can dramatically transform your grocery budget, and why proper storage makes a bigger difference than you might think. If you’re trying to spend less, waste less, and make your kitchen work better for you — this episode is packed with strategies you can start using right away. Takeaways Food waste is one of the fastest ways to lose money on groceries — often without realizing itFood rescue is a practical way to cut your grocery billProper storage — especially breathable storage — helps food last longerBeeswax wraps are a reusable, plastic-free way to keep food freshPlanning for leftovers and using scraps can stretch your groceries budgetStrategies on how to (re)use and store almost everythingComposting helps close the loop — but keeping food in use is the goalOne Small Shift Before you shop this week, check the reduced section or a food rescue app first — and build one meal around what you find. Connect with Chelsey Website Instagram Resources A Beginner’s Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (use code PODCAST20) 11 Ways to Reuse Food Scraps How to Prevent Food Waste with Kids How to Use Beeswax Wraps (and Keep Food Fresh Without Plastic) Flashfood (use code is SUST7K8EA for $5 off) Too Good to Go  Odd Bunch Souper Cubes Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    1h 8m

  2. MAR 31

    44: How to Start Birding in Your Backyard (and Help Birds During Nesting Season)

    Spring is when the birds get loud again. You hear them before you see them — in the morning, in the trees, and in the background of your day. If you’ve ever thought about getting into birding, this is a really natural place to start — right outside your door. In this episode, we’re talking about how to start birding in your own backyard, how to identify common birds by sight and sound, what’s happening during nesting season, and how to support birds in ways that genuinely help. There’s a lot of advice out there this time of year — and not all of it is as helpful as it sounds. So we’ll also walk through what to avoid, common bird hazards in suburban spaces, and simple ways to support backyard biodiversity and habitat. Takeaways How to start birding right in your own backyardWhy birdsong supports mental well-beingHow to identify birds by sight and sound (using Merlin Bird ID)What citizen science is — and how to take partA look inside Project NestWatch and nesting seasonHow to join the Great Backyard Bird CountWhy common nesting materials (like yarn and dryer lint) can harm birdsWhat birds actually need: habitat, not materialsCommon bird hazards (windows, cats, habitat loss)Simple ways to support backyard biodiversityOne Small Shift Leave your earphones at home for one walk this week and just listen. Learn to identify one bird by sound and tell me who it is! Resources: Safe Nesting Materials for Birds (blog post) Merlin Bird ID Birds Canada - Project NestWatch Birds Canada - SwiftWatch Great Backyard Bird Count Wild Birds Unlimited Feather Friendly Related Episodes: Ep. 18: Connecting Communities Through Green Spaces with Carolyn Scotchmer Ep. 20: Wildlife Conservation, Birding, and Finding Hope in Nature with Matt Howard Ep. 25: Redefining Sustainable Living — From Zero Waste to Real-World Resilience Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    27 min

  3. MAR 24

    43: Making Sustainable Living Accessible in the Suburbs with Laura Newton of Kind Matter

    What does sustainable living actually look like in the suburbs — in places designed around cars, convenience, and big box shopping? Laura Newton is the founder of The Kind Matter Company, a Canadian eco-boutique and refill store focused on low waste living, eco friendly products, and non-toxic household essentials. What began as a personal search for safer products after her daughter developed severe allergies has grown into a retail business built around making sustainable living more accessible for everyday families. Kind Matter now has multiple locations across Ontario, including a flagship store in Mississauga’s Heartland Town Centre — a typical suburban shopping plaza where refillable products, Canadian brands, and plastic-free options sit alongside everyday errands. This conversation explores how refill stores and low waste shopping fit into suburban life, what customers are actually looking for, and how eco friendly products become part of real, everyday routines — without requiring a complete lifestyle overhaul. Takeaways Why accessibility is one of the biggest barriers to sustainable living and low waste livingWhat customers are most curious — and hesitant — about when they first encounter refill stores and refill systemsWhy cleaning products are often the gateway into refilling and eco friendly home swapsHow placing refill shops inside suburban shopping plazas changes everyday shopping habitsThe role Canadian and women-owned brands play in Kind Matter’s product curationThe importance of community-focused sustainability and local shopping in suburban areasConnect With Laura The Kind Matter Company Terra Greenhouses Products Mentioned Birch Babe Cheekbone Beauty The Bare Home Notice Hair Co. (see in store) Routine Cream (see in store) Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    47 min

  4. MAR 17

    42: RECYCLED - Overwhelmed by Climate Change? Start Here.

    This episode originally aired in the very first month of Sustainable in the Suburbs. I’m revisiting it now because this idea remains one of the clearest ways to find your place in climate action — and sometimes returning to the foundation is exactly what helps us feel re-energized. Climate change feels HUGE — and it is. The problem is urgent and complex. And when you start looking for solutions, it can seem like there’s an endless list of things you should be doing. All of them are important, and that can feel completely overwhelming. But meaningful climate action doesn’t happen because one person does everything. It happens when many people each find their place — in their homes, their neighbourhoods, and their communities. In this episode, I’m sharing a simple framework I often come back to refocus my efforts: the Climate Action Venn Diagram from Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. We’ll talk about how your skills, your joys, and the needs of the world can come together to help you find your own personal starting point — one that feels meaningful, realistic, and sustainable for the long haul. Takeaways The Climate Venn Diagram helps identify a meaningful starting point for climate action by looking at what brings you joy, what you’re good at, and what the world needs.Sustainable living isn’t about doing everything — it’s about doing something that feels right for you.Joy is a powerful motivator in climate work and there are countless ways to contribute your skills.Climate action often happens at the community level — through local advocacy, shared resources, and collective resilience.Building habits that feel good and fit your life helps make climate action sustainable for the long term.One Small Shift Download a copy of Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s Climate Venn Diagram worksheet, grab a pencil, and just see what comes up. You might be surprised by how much clarity this one little exercise can bring. Resources How to Start Living Sustainably: A Simple Framework for Climate Action Climate Action Venn Diagram How to Find Joy in Climate Action (TED Talk) What If We Get It Right? (website) All We Can Save - Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson (book) What If We Get It Right - Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (book) Buy Nothing Project Related Epiosdes Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    22 min

  5. MAR 10

    41: Behind the Scenes — Sustainability on Film Sets with Erin Karpluk

    What does sustainability look like in a fast-moving industry like film and television? In this episode, Canadian actress Erin Karpluk shares how growing up in Jasper shaped her connection to nature, how the 2024 wildfires impacted her community, and how those experiences inform the way she approaches sustainability — both personally and professionally. We talk about eco-friendly habits, secondhand fashion, sustainable travel, and what waste and sustainability look like behind the scenes on film sets. This is a conversation about environmental awareness, resilience, and the small shifts that can influence culture at work. Takeaways How growing up in Jasper shaped Erin’s connection to nature and communityThe impact of the 2024 Jasper wildfires on memory and resilienceWhat sustainable living looks like in everyday routinesHow sustainability in film production is evolving — and where it still needs workPractical eco-friendly travel habits for people who live on the roadHow small workplace habits can shift culture over timeWhy connection to people and place fuels environmental awarenessConnect With Erin Instagram Facebook IMDb Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    1h 2m

  6. MAR 3

    40: How to Host a Zero Waste Birthday Party for Kids (Eco-Friendly Ideas That Save You Money)

    I can’t be the only one who has complicated feelings about goody bags… right? Kids' birthday parties have quietly escalated. The venues. The décor. The goody bags. The expectation that every year has to be a little bigger than the last. But most kids don’t actually need all of that. In this episode, I’m sharing how we’ve kept birthday parties simple, low waste, and still genuinely fun — from smaller guest lists to reusable decorations, bulk food, experience gifts, and activities that don’t end up in the trash. If you’re looking for practical, eco-friendly birthday party ideas that feel realistic for busy families, this episode walks through exactly how we do it. Related Episodes Ep. 16: Sustainable Living with Kids with Jessica Nakamura Ep. 22: Simple, Real-Life Sustainable Living with Julie Darrell Ep. 23: Borrow Before You Buy with LEND-IT.CA Ep. 26: Holiday Food Waste — Simple Ways to Reduce Waste and Save Money Resources How to Have a Zero Waste Birthday Party for Kids (blog post) Should You Give Secondhand Gifts (blog post) Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for Kids (blog post) Balloons Blow Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    24 min

  7. FEB 24

    39: Sustainable Home Renovations — Materials, Waste, and Designing Homes For Life with Brittany Steptoe Wright

    We talk a lot on this show about the small daily habits inside our homes. But every so often, the choices get bigger. Renovations bring in materials, demolition, budgets, trades, and long-term decisions all at once. They shape how a home functions — and how it holds up — for years. In this episode, I’m joined by Brittany Steptoe Wright, Founder and Principal of BSW Design and COO of Steptoe Carpentry, for a practical and thoughtful conversation about what sustainable design actually looks like inside real projects with real budgets. If you’re planning a renovation — or simply thinking about your home with a longer lens — this conversation offers a steady framework for building and living in a way that lasts. Takeaways What sustainable design actually looks like inside a renovationWhere renovation waste comes from — and where it can realistically be divertedWhy durability often matters more than trend cyclesHow antiques and inherited pieces can anchor a renovationHow professionals weigh sourcing, longevity, and budget togetherWhy maintenance plays a key role in sustainabilityOne Small Shift Take care of your things — loved things last! Maintain them. Repair them. Clean them properly. Loved things last — and extending the life of what’s already in your home is one of the simplest and most meaningful sustainability decisions you can make. Connect With Brit Website Instagram Podcast Resources Habitat for Humanity  Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Sustainable Waste Farrier Home  RC Home  HanStone Jairpur Living Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    55 min

  8. FEB 17

    38: Things I Don’t Buy Anymore — Eco-Frugal Shifts That Reduce Waste and Save Money

    Buying less is one of the most powerful forms of climate action we have. In this episode, I’m sharing some of the things I’ve stopped buying over the last ten years of sustainable living. This shift into eco-frugal living happened gradually, beginning with using up what I already had, doing periodic waste audits to see what we were consistently throwing way, and getting very clear on how and where to spend our money. Because truly, the most sustainable thing you can buy is nothing. Takeaways Climate action begins at the kitchen tableMany “household essentials” are designed to be constant restock itemsMarketing — especially in personal care — encourages us to buy more than we needReusables make the most sense for things you use all the timeSaving money and reducing waste naturally go hand in handNot buying creates mental, physical, and financial spaceOne Small Shift Instead of focusing on what you might stop buying next, try making a short list of things you already don’t buy anymore — and notice what made that possible. Resources Household Waste Audit Workbook (free download) A Beginner’s Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (use code PODCAST20) How to Quit Using Amazon (blog post and podcast episode) 10 Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps That Save You Money (blog post) How to Pack a Zero Waste School Lunch (blog post) 3 Ways to Have a Zero Waste Period (blog post) Support the show Connect With Me Website Newsletter Shop Instagram Support the Show Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

    22 min
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4.6
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About

Want to waste less, save money, and make your home a little more eco-friendly? Sustainable in the Suburbs is your go-to podcast for practical, judgment-free tips and real-life stories to help you build sustainable habits that actually stick. Hosted by Sarah Robertson-Barnes — a suburban soccer mum, sustainability educator, and founder of the blog Sustainable in the Suburbs — this weekly show brings doable advice, honest conversations, and actionable ideas to help you waste less, spend smarter, and live more sustainably at home. Because sustainable living doesn’t have to be perfect to matter — and you don’t have to do it all to make a big impact.  Start where you are, use what you have, and live a little greener.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Robertson-Barnes
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sustainable in the Suburbs
  • Show Website
    Sustainable in the Suburbs

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